Compiler and recommendation engine for multi-condition workflow configuration

Abstract

A method for automated workflow configuration assistance. Embodiments include receiving configuration data specifying a first condition of a workflow and a second condition of the workflow that depends on the first condition. Embodiments include generating a sequence of numerical values that indicate whether each of a set of possible values associated with the second condition is consistent with the first condition. Embodiments include determining, based on the sequence of numerical values, that the second condition is incompatible with the first condition or redundant of the first condition. Embodiments include, prior to configuring a software application based on the configuration data, providing output via a user interface indicating that the second condition is incompatible with the first condition or redundant of the first condition. Embodiments include receiving corrected configuration data via the user interface after providing the output and configuring the software application based on the corrected configuration data.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for automated workflow configuration assistance, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a user interface, configuration data specifying:
 a first condition of a workflow; and 
 a second condition of the workflow that depends on the first condition; 
 
 generating a sequence of numerical values that indicate whether each value of a set of possible values associated with the second condition is consistent with the first condition, wherein the generating of the sequence of numerical values comprises adding numerical values to the sequence of numerical values that represent beginning points and ending points of value ranges in the set of possible values, wherein the value ranges are determined based on the first condition and the second condition, and wherein the generating of the sequence of numerical values comprises adding a negative one value to the sequence of numerical values to represent a beginning point of a value range that does not comply with the first condition; 
 determining, based on the sequence of numerical values, that the second condition is incompatible with the first condition or redundant of the first condition; 
 prior to configuring a software application based on the configuration data, providing output via the user interface, based on the determining, indicating that the second condition is incompatible with the first condition or redundant of the first condition; 
 receiving corrected configuration data via the user interface after providing the output; and 
 configuring the software application based on the corrected configuration data. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the corrected configuration data specifies:
 the first condition of the workflow; and 
 a corrected second condition of the workflow that depends on the first condition, wherein the corrected second condition is not incompatible with the first condition and not redundant of the first condition. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, prior to the configuring of the software application based on the corrected configuration data:
 generating a new sequence of numerical values that indicate whether each value of a corresponding set of possible values associated with the corrected second condition is consistent with the first condition; and 
 determining, based on the new sequence of numerical values, that the corrected second condition is not incompatible with the first condition and not redundant of the first condition. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the corrected configuration data further specifies an action to be performed in the workflow when the corrected second condition is satisfied, and wherein the configuring of the software application based on the corrected configuration data comprises configuring the software application to perform the action when the corrected second condition is satisfied. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, based on the sequence of numerical values, a configuration recommendation for the workflow; and 
 providing, via the user interface, the configuration recommendation along with the output, wherein the corrected configuration data is consistent with the configuration recommendation. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating of the sequence of numerical values comprises adding a positive one value to the sequence of numerical values to represent a respective beginning point of a respective value range that complies with the first condition. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the generating of the sequence of numerical values comprises adding zero values to the sequence of numerical values to represent points that are not beginning points of value ranges that do not comply with the first condition and are not respective beginning points of respective value ranges that immediately follow given value ranges that do not comply with the first condition. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising generating a sum array that stores sums of subsets of the sequence of numerical values. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the determining, based on the sequence of numerical values, that the second condition is incompatible with the first condition or redundant of the first condition is based on the sum array. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating of the sequence of numerical values does not involve a brute force analysis of all possible values associated with second condition. 
     
     
       11. A system for automated workflow configuration assistance, comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
 receive, via a user interface, configuration data specifying:
 a first condition of a workflow; and 
 a second condition of the workflow that depends on the first condition; 
 
 generate a sequence of numerical values that indicate whether each value of a set of possible values associated with the second condition is consistent with the first condition, wherein the generating of the sequence of numerical values comprises adding numerical values to the sequence of numerical values that represent beginning points and ending points of value ranges in the set of possible values, wherein the value ranges are determined based on the first condition and the second condition, and wherein the generating of the sequence of numerical values comprises adding a negative one value to the sequence of numerical values to represent a beginning point of a value range that does not comply with the first condition; 
 determine, based on the sequence of numerical values, that the second condition is incompatible with the first condition or redundant of the first condition; 
 prior to configuring a software application based on the configuration data, provide output via the user interface, based on the determining, indicating that the second condition is incompatible with the first condition or redundant of the first condition; 
 receive corrected configuration data via the user interface after providing the output; and 
 configure the software application based on the corrected configuration data. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the corrected configuration data specifies:
 the first condition of the workflow; and 
 a corrected second condition of the workflow that depends on the first condition, wherein the corrected second condition is not incompatible with the first condition and not redundant of the first condition. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the system to, prior to the configuring of the software application based on the corrected configuration data:
 generate a new sequence of numerical values that indicate whether each value of a corresponding set of possible values associated with the corrected second condition is consistent with the first condition; and 
 determine, based on the new sequence of numerical values, that the corrected second condition is not incompatible with the first condition and not redundant of the first condition. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the corrected configuration data further specifies an action to be performed in the workflow when the corrected second condition is satisfied, and wherein the configuring of the software application based on the corrected configuration data comprises configuring the software application to perform the action when the corrected second condition is satisfied. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the system to:
 determine, based on the sequence of numerical values, a configuration recommendation for the workflow; and 
 provide, via the user interface, the configuration recommendation along with the output, wherein the corrected configuration data is consistent with the configuration recommendation. 
 
     
     
       16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to:
 receive, via a user interface, configuration data specifying:
 a first condition of a workflow; and 
 a second condition of the workflow that depends on the first condition; 
 
 generate a sequence of numerical values that indicate whether each value of a set of possible values associated with the second condition is consistent with the first condition, wherein the generating of the sequence of numerical values comprises adding numerical values to the sequence of numerical values that represent beginning points and ending points of value ranges in the set of possible values, wherein the value ranges are determined based on the first condition and the second condition, and wherein the generating of the sequence of numerical values comprises adding a negative one value to the sequence of numerical values to represent a beginning point of a value range that does not comply with the first condition; 
 determine, based on the sequence of numerical values, that the second condition is incompatible with the first condition or redundant of the first condition; 
 prior to configuring a software application based on the configuration data, provide output via the user interface, based on the determining, indicating that the second condition is incompatible with the first condition or redundant of the first condition; 
 receive corrected configuration data via the user interface after providing the output; and 
 configure the software application based on the corrected configuration data.